Automatic stoker.



Nq, 875,020. 1 'PATENTED DEC. 31, 1907.

H. E'. WALLIS.

AUTOMATIC STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16. 1007.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a Houmyk No. 875,020. PATENTED DEG. 81,1907. H. E. WALLIS.

AUTOMATIC STOKER.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.18, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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-HENRY E. WALLIS, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO WALLIS STOKER A ND MANUFACTURING 00., OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA v, AUTOMATIC STOR.

' immense.

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that 1, HENRY E. WALLIS, a citizen of the United States, residin at 'lerre Hautc, in the county of 'Vigo and tate in automatic stokers of the chain grate type,

and the objects of said invention are; to produce a device of this kmd which will prevent leakage of fresh fuel through the chain; to

' provide means for driving the chain under such conditions that it cannot buckle and so that differences in its length due to differences in tempcraturewill not affect its proper operation; to provide improved means for actuating the fuel feeding mechanism; to

provide an improved arrangementofdampers; and to provide such improvement 1n de- "tails of construction as may be hereinafter pointed out.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention: Figure 1 1s a side elevation of an a paratus embodying my invention, a por: tlon of the gear casing having been removed; Fig. 2 an enlar ed vertical sectional detail of the hopper e Fig. 3 a cross sectional detail showing my im roved setting; and Fi s. 4 and 5 perspective details of one of the chamforming blocks.

In the drawings 10 indicates a main frame structure supported u on suitable traction wheels 11 by means 0 which the structure may be readily rolled into \o-rwithdrawn from the setting. Mounted at the forward end of frame 10 is a shaft 12 providedwith suitable sprocket Wheels 13. Mounted atthe op osite or inner end of frame 10 is the drive s raft 14 rovided with suitable drivin sprocket whee s 15. Shaft 14 is provide with a worm wheel 16 driven by means of a worm 17 carried by the inner end of the shaft" 18 which, at its forward end, is provided with a worm wheel 19 driven by a worm carried by a shaft 20 journaled in suitable bear ings supported at the forward end of frame 10 and provided with a belt pulley 21. The grate is composed of a chain formed of a plurality of grate blocks 25 each of which consists of a main upper plate, having perforations 26 formed therethrough, and a pair of side flanges 2727 at the edges of the plate 25. The flanges 27 are providedwith suitable bearing lugs 28 which are perforated to Specification of Letters Patent." Application filed March 13. I907- Sarial No. 362.977.

receive cross pins 29, rollers 30 being placed between the i anges 27 of those blocks which are arranged in alincment with the sprocket Patented Dec. 51, 1907.

wheels 13 and 15. The blocks are arranged alternately in adjacent lon itudinal series thus forming an endless chain in the usual well known manner. By this construction a very light yet. sufficiently strong and officient grate is produced and, the live side of the chem being pulled forward from the innor end by the shaft 14, the upper orlive side of the belt is always ti ht and under tension so that there can be no uckling under the load of fuel and any changes in length of -the belt, due' to changes in term erature,

merely cause a variation in the slac side of the belt without in any manner affecting the live or workin side. any back lash etween the driving s rocket and the chain will not injuriousl a ect the operation. The live side of the c ain is supported by a plurality of rollers 32-journaied 1n the main frame 10 and engaged by the lower straight ed es of the flanges 27 of the blocks of which t e chain grate is com osed, thus holding the live side of the chain at.

In the operation of chain ates heretofore it has been customary to eliver the :fresh fuel directly u on the chain and, as this-fuel is preferably elivere'din as fine a condition as ossible, considerable quantities of the free fuelsift immediately throughthe openings in the grate structure, and it therefore becomes necessary for the fireman to continually shovel the leakage back into the feeding hopper.' In addition to the extra labor involved, this leakage prevents the. installation of front delivery ash mechanism, because the ashes cannot be delivered throu h or over the unburned fuel sifting down t ough the grate. In order to prevent this action I therefore provide, immediately .above the front end of the grate structure, a cokin plate 40, preferably provided at its ends wit retaining flanges" 41. The coking plate 40 lies somewhat above the u per face of the In addition to this,

loo

grate structure and exten s some distance.

inward beneath the usual arch, and consequently inorder to form a-connection between the inner end of,th e coking plate and the grate structure, I-provide a tail plate 42 which, at its upper forward edge, is hinged to the inner edge of plate 40, so that its inner edge may rest upon the chain grate structure thus permitting the coked fuel to be graduand mounted withinse 4 able ,stop-L Mounte so as to traverse the a givemstroke of the mechanism can traverse th'e'cokirig plate, thus giving suflicient time, while the fresh fuel ison the coking'plate, for it to become welded into such condition that, when delivered to the grate structure, it is no longer in condition to sift down through the same.- -Ifhave found a convenient feeding mechanism to consist of. a plate plunger 44 provided at its inner ends with a downturned portion 4 5 which rests upon a bottom plate of the. hopper 46.. In order to reciprocate the plate lunger 44 I provide a shaft47 having at eac end a pinion 48 which mesh'eswit and rests u on a stationary rack 49 and also meshes Wit a rack 50 formed on the under face of the plate plunger '44, Shaft '47 passes through a slot 51 formed in the adjacent por-' tion of the 'main frame 10, the arrangement beings'uch that,' by rolling the fpimons. 48.

"upon the racks 49, the plunger plate. 44 may be reciprocatedl Secured'to one end of shaft 47 is a segment 52 provided with a segmental sloti53. Se'g (see dotted distance between finger 54 and the adjustable stop 55, isj'an operatin 56 which is pivoted upon-'shaft-47. onnected to arm '56 byi'a ball" oryother suitable joint 59 is a crank GOLcafried by-shaft 18, the arrangement ing such that rotation. of shaft. 18 servestoreeiprocatejarm 56 on shaft'47- and,

as sa-id arm.-com'es intot'jengagement"with either the. er 54*"01 the stop,55 -o'f segment 52, to. turn-s jaft--47{upon its' own ax s and thus cause the'igearsf4&ithereof tovfoll upon the stationary racks '49 and thus' reciprocate a the plate plunger'44. A

In the operationof chain it is desire able to'so control the; drafts that the fuel will becomegentirelyconsumed and partially cooledbefore itreaches the discharge end of the grate, and inorder to do this I journal in the frame 10, near the inner'end thereof, a

damper-shaft 65 provided at one. end with an operati lever 66 which may be operated by means 0 a rod 67 extended to a point convenient .of access at the forward end of the frame. Secured to shaft 65, within frame.

'an operating lever 7 '1.

ment 52 isprovided at one endmes'm Fig. 1) with a finger'54, out 5?) is an .adjust-- and forward so that it may normally rest the grate. In order to furtherrontrol the air currents at the inner end of the grate I 'upon the slack, side of the chain, thus directing the air drafts upward and inward to a point somewhat forward of the inner end of provide two or more dampers 69, 69 each of which is'carriedby a shaft 70 j ournaled in the frame 10 and provided at its outer end with Secured to each lever 71 is a rod 72 which is extended forward to a point convenient of access at the forward end of the structure. I I also provide a damper 100, back of damper 69, which is yieldingly held'a ainst the lower face of the upper line of chain by a suitable counter weight 101.

In order to protect the shaft 14 from the heat of falling cinders, I surround said shaft between thesprockets 15 with sections of pipefof an internal diameter considerably greaterthan the diameter of the shaft.

' In view of the fact that the mechanism necessary for o eration of the various parts projectsbeyon ,the-sides of the chain so that the.ash1 it ofthe setting must be considerably 'wi er than is desirable'for the setting abovethe plane'of the live side of the chain,

I journalateach side of the frame 10, in suitable brackets 80, a shaft 81 which, at its forw'ard end, lies at a point convenient of access outside. the setting. Shaft 81 is preferably gonal in cross section in order to receive tries-'82 which, by turning the shaft, are adapted'to be projected upward'into en agement with the overhangin portion 0 the settin For instance, in ig. 3, the setting 90.is s own as provided at each side with an overhangin' portion 91, 91 beginnin at the horizontal p ane of the active s1de of t e belt, i said overhang being conveniently supported by plates 92. After the structure is projected vin the setting, shafts 81. should be readily turned so that the cams 82 may be projected uplward beneath and into engage- 'ment with t eplates 92, thus supporting the overhanging portions of the setting; I

I claim as my invention:

1. In a stoker of the chain rate type, the combination, with a suitab e supportingframe, a pair of chain-supporting shafts journaled one at each end of said frame, and an endless chain, ate carried by said shafts, a substantially orizontal support for said chain grate between saidshafts, of means for driving the shaft at the inner end of the structure-whereby the ti ht side of the belt will be the live side, a co ing plate arranged.

and turn with it a plurality of cams or eccenarenas frame, a pair of chain-supporting shafts journaled one at each end of-said frame, and an endless chain'grate carried by said shafts, of 'means for driving theshaft-jat the inner end of the structure whereb the-tight side ofthe belt will; be the liv'esi e, a co ranged above the chain grate, a fee per adapted to deliver to said cokin I plun er arranged insaid hopper an adapted to de iver to said coking plate, a rolling gear having a rolling meshing enga said p unger and a rolling mes ing engagement with a stationary member, and means for rollingsaid gear. z

3. In a stoker of the chain grate 'type,' the combination, with a suitable supporting frame, a pair of chain-supporting shafts jour: naled one'ateach end of said frame, and an endless chain grate carried by said shafts, of means for driving the shaft at the inner end of the structure whereb the ti ht side of the belt will be the live si e, a coking plate arranged above the chain grate, arpivoted tail plate forming a connectienbetween the inner end of said coking plate and the chain grate, a fcedin hopper adapted to deliver to said "coking p ate, a plunger arranged in said hopper and adapted to deliver to said coking plate, a rolling gear having a rollin meshing engagement with said plunger ant a rolling engagement with a stationary member, and means for rolling said gear.

4. In a stoker of the chain grate'type, the

combination, with. a sultable supporting frame, a pair of chain-supporting sh afts journaled one at each end of said frame, and an endless chain grate carried by said shafts, of means for driving the shaft at the inner end of the structure whcreb the tight side of the belt'will be the live si( e, -a coking plate arranged above the chain grate, a feedin hopper adapted ing late arto, a.

cement with 'belt will be the live si e, a co ranged above the chain grate,

to deliver to said coking p ate, a

plum er arranged in sa d hopper and adapted to de i ver to said cokingplate a rolling gear havin a rolling meshing enga emennwi said p unger and a rolling mes ear, an actuating arm pivoted on the axis 0' said gear, a pair of stops carried by said segment arm and to which said operating arm may travel, and means for adjusting one of said stops toward the other. i

5. In a stoker of the chain rate type, the combination, with a suitab e supporting frame and a pair of chain-supporting shafts journaled one at each end of said frame, an endless chain grate carried by said shafts, of means for driving the shaft at the inner end of the structure whereb the tight side of the ing plate ara pivoted tailplate forming a connection between the inner end of said coking a feedin hopper adapted to deliver to said coking late, a plunger arranged in said hopper an adapted to deliver to said coking plate, a rolling gear having a rollin meshing engagement with said plunger and: a rolling engagement with a stationary member, a segment arm carried by saidrolling gear, an actuating arm pivote on the axis of" said gear, a pair of stops carriedby said segment arm and to which said operating arm may travel; and means for adjusting one of said stops toward the other.

In witness whereof, I, have. hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 4th day of March, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and seven.

HENRY E. WALLIS. [1,. s.]

Witnesses:

Geo. G. Moams, Jenn ii. Graaonsj plate and the ehain'gratc,

ing engag'eme'ntwith a stationary member, a segment arm carried by said rolling 

